Styling elements to elevate your kitchen from cabinets to conversation pieces

A kitchen is one of the biggest investments you’ll make in the house and one of the most time consuming decisions.  It can add value to the property so you don’t want to get it wrong, so making any mistakes is costly.

I see this so much with customers, they’re so scared when it comes to decisions in this room more than any other.  They’ve seen things they like online, but rarely they’re brave enough to go with them. 

I do get it.   Having something that isn’t trendy, or out of the ordinary is risky.  But what are you over looking in order to ‘fit in’.

I love working on kitchen designs.  But my one wish is that customers would get a little braver. Kitchens can be so much more than a bunch of neatly lined up storage containers.

So how can we look at this differently?

There are questions you should ask yourself.  The list could be longer, but lets start here:

-              What do you use the kitchen for? Yes really. This sounds obvious but this is the room of the house that you might spend the most time. You could create a checklist:

o   Cooking and preparing food

o   Baking

o   Having a morning coffee

o   Preparing your Friday evening after work tipple

o   Entertaining your friends

o   Yoga

o   Feeding the pooch

o   Evening cup of cocoa

o   Doing the kids homework

o   Your end of year accounts

You see how the list can grow?

So here’s where you can start to elevate.

Can you create a space for your morning coffee, so that it becomes a window seated ritual rather than a rushed, countertop cup?

Have you really created enough worktop space to chop the veg and serve the family dinner?

Wouldn’t it be great to close the doors on your breakfast pantry so all of the small electricals don’t spoil the ambience of your soulfull kitchen?

Those are mainly space related issues for you to think about. 

There are other elements that can really help lift the space.  You can be a little bit brave, surely?

Cabinet colours:

Your kitchen isn’t mother of the bride at a wedding: the handbag doesn’t need to match the shoes.  Base cabinets that don’t match the wall cabinets looks good. It means you don’t have to chose your favourite colour like you’re choosing your favourite child. Think of the place that makes you feel invigorated and energise; take a photo, see the colours, let that inspire your colour palate – I bet that’s not a rainy day somewhere, so why are you leaning towards grey?

Non standard colours:

Nobody gets bored of nature. A bunch of flowers never looks bleak. Your favourite spot to eat in Ibiza town at night is not glum. The beach in Sardena is not dull.  There is inspiration everywhere for non standard colours.  Even if you take one, and mix it with grey or black, it will still make a big difference.  And if you always relate it to your favourite place, then surely the story itself will keep it interesting?

You don’t need to fit in, or be trendy. Your kitchen isn’t about them, it’s about you.  Trust me, it’s not even bravery, it’s just personal.

Open shelves:

This scares people when I mention it – the first thing they say is ‘but I will need to keep it organised’.  Yes, sort of.  But there’s something very homely about a display of crockery, easy to reach every day items for a busy mum, and a beautfil display of dried wild flowers that bring the shelf to life. 

The organisation of the shelf deserves as much thought as the kitchen itself – admittedly.  But it makes such a difference.  Having block after block of cabinet colour, it becomes very dull.  Magazine worthy kitchens have that little bit more, and this is it, it’s the bit you’re scared to try but the bit that makes the biggest difference.

Soft furnishings:

It’s not the place for soft furnishings, typically. However, when you do create space for them, and find suitable pieces for a kitchen, then suddenly it becomes more of a story.  Pottery from Italy (the piece your husband said you would never need); the family photo; the clock, the vase etc. But also the kitchen items.  Of course they’re part of the design.  Think of your coffee machine as your sofa cushion.  Your Le Crueset as your throw.  The same ‘mother of the bride’ principle applies – doesn’t need to match exactly, but if it’s from the palate you created, then it will work.

Where to begin?

Creating a space as important as this is layered, considered and deserves a lot of intentional design and thought. 

An investment worthy of more than selection.  Your kitchen provider is the expert in the layout and general kitchen design.  But elevating cabinets to conversational points takes a little more.

If you want to take back the luxury of time by entrusting an interior designer with these decisions, then let’s connect.  You can confidently invest in something that will return, not only in monetary value but in personal value too.

Time to win back life’s real luxuries.

A place to live your rituals, not rush.

A place to celebrate, not just cook.

A showstopper, more than a social.